Shomex Bringing Geriatric Care Show to India

LOS ANGELES — Shomex Productions is making its first foray into the overseas market with the launch of a consumer show targeted for senior citizens in India.

The new show, christened the Unmukt Festival, will be launched by Shomex and KW Conferences Pvt. Ltd. at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Madhapur, Hyderabad, Dec. 15-16, 2018. The event will serve as a marketplace for sellers of a growing line of digital solutions and other services aimed at India’s geriatric care market, which is also on an upward trajectory as the subcontinent’s population of senior citizens increases steadily.

While the Unmukt Festival is Shomex’s first launch outside North America, the Los Angeles organizer is on familiar ground when it comes to exhibitions for senior and disabled care. Shomex owns the Abilities Expo brand, which includes seven shows in the U.S. and Canada. “With my background in advocacy and the disability community, I see a great opportunity to make the aging population of India more informed about issues, products and services that will prepare them for greater independence,” said Lew Shomer, CEO of Shomex and the former Executive Director of the Society of Independent Show Organizers.

Unmukt, which means “unfettered” in Hindi, will include exhibits and a menu of workshops aimed at a geriatric care market that drew $13.8 billion in revenue in 2015 and is projected to increase 9.0% by 2023. The product areas will include lifestyle services, such as travel and financial planning as well as healthcare and technological products. The care of elderly and disabled persons in India is by and large left to the family rather than social agencies, so the show will directly engage both senior citizens and their caretaker relatives.

“We chose a festival format to make this kind of information less formal and more fun so that the days will be filled with entertainment and activities that seniors can enjoy while learning about the many options and opportunities there are available to them,” said Monimita Sarkar, Managing Director of KW Conferences.